New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-11
4 MANAGERS DILEMMA.


OF recent disagreeable experiences recollect one
NIGHT M Her Maiestys in 1852. | had produced
Tannhausor,' and for the third performance OF II r
Gladstone, who at that time In power had nouhed
his intention 10 he present The Intelligence had got
about, aud the opera being great success, with MI
Glad.tone's presence adding 10 the attraction, we
expected great house lett the theatre abont and
was Just sitting down 10 dinner when messenger
arrived at my residence, saying that Seho the repre-
sentative OF the title role, had suddenly collapsed ana
could not sing No gr ayhound ever jumped up quicker
than from my repast. Putting cigar In .ly mouth
instead OF food, drove down TO the theatre where my
managerial eye met what at other times "oulu nave
been a glorious sight Tho coOnnade before the
theatre packed with people. ready Tor the double
eyent afTannhauseri and Gladstone" But alas !
they were going be- disappointed Ia both respects
In the afternoon had received communication IT
forming ia 1t Mr. Gladstone could no; DO present
having been summoned to Windsor. When arrived
at tho stage door great CONFORMATION preVaneu.
had my way down already telegraphed 10 most OF
my artists to come instantly 10 ,ne the1e ,ha, ~
Burns aud Ludwig were In the Ianhhauser
cast had my Mariana" aud "Don Jose but
quite unex pected difficulty presented itself When !
looked for tho master carpenter and his principal
assistant found them In perfect state OF intoAca
ton lying ON the floor Ia the cellar, ana no gentle
uasion stern treatment would persuade thehl
10 change tao scenery BY this time II Was tue hour
Tor opening. Written bills were posted on Tue pay
box that aMaritaua' would be substituted Tor
" Mariana" / must give though AT that moment
Heaven only knew where my Don CesaIc ana
Lazarillo" we're 20 come from
The first man appearing was Dawes, the TENOR.
- You must sing Don Ce,arel" don't know It,.
q Can you not get through the first act I" might
Try and 90 down and dress" Miss Yorke was the
second 10 arrive, and / had my Lazarillo Ny
friend Randegger although he had never conducted
tho opera consented to do until my sub-conductor
had returned from home Ia evening dress aRI up
went the curtain But what about the scenery well
we pulled the Venus scene oil. and PLAYED the hrsi
act in Thurnga with the Wartbnrg in sight instead
of in Spanish market place the second act ~ a
chamber close NJ hand instead OF in prison and the
third act in the gran hall at the WariIurg instead oil
in a Spanish Interior But ny troubles were not
over / soon discovered that in spite OF the best
Intentions Davies would not got through the opera
and my eye watched at the stage door, 8s wellington
spied for Buoher at the battle of Waterloo. We'll;
Butcher came in the shape Of Turner WHO lived good
distance OIL and had induced express train to stop
and let him OF one oil the stations running nto
town He dressed and released Davies in the middle
OF the first act to the great dstonishment oil tue
audience aud Pew did the same Tor Randegger. !
did not shut the theatre but 1t was a. narrow AN
escape OF doing so as any manager ever had